Global Perspectives on Youth Gang Behavior, Violence, and Weapons Use

Book excerpt: Youth violence has become a concern as gangs become a popular option for urban children and teenagers and weapons use among young populations becomes more prevalent. Exploring the psychological motivations and foundations upon which such violence is developed and cultivated can assist in better understanding the modern dilemma of violence, weapons use, and gang behavior among children, teenagers, and young adults. Global Perspectives on Youth Gang Behavior, Violence, and Weapons Use reconsiders the traditional understandings of youth violence in various forms, such as gang activities, criminal behavior, and weapons use. Focusing on the psychosocial elements of violence among children, teenagers, and young adults, this timely publication is ideally designed for use by policy makers and government executives, professionals, educators, and graduate-level students involved in psychology, criminology, social work, and criminal justice studies.